Photography is an art, and like all art forms, seven basic elements comprise our images. Although, I challenge that number, I think there are eight. Understanding these elements helps us to take our creativity to the next level.
When it comes to swimsuit photography, Joey Wright is one of the best in the world, and he is a fantastic teacher on top of that. If you would like to improve your work, check out this fantastic video tutorial in which Joey shares eight excellent tips for shooting natural light beach photos.
Starting a wedding photo business in 2022 is vastly different than it was in 2002 or even 2012, and as such, it is helpful to know what unique considerations and steps you should take to position yourself for success. This helpful video tutorial features a seasoned wedding pro discussing five things she would do if she were starting a wedding photography business this year.
Landscape photography is just like any other genre in that you can do everything right, but if you miss focus, the resulting image will be a throwaway. So, what can you do to ensure that your photos are perfectly in focus every time you press the shutter? This helpful video tutorial will show you one professional landscape photographer's secret.
Retouching photos is as much an art as a skill, and portrait photographers must understand the proper way to retouch images, even if they prefer to have a retoucher do this work for them. Although there are a variety of ways to retouch an image, using frequency separation is the most common method and is considered one of the best. In this article and the accompanying video, I detail the process I use to retouch my headshots and portrait work.
Part of becoming a successful landscape photographer is knowing how to find worthwhile locations to take your camera to. And while learning settings and editing are pretty well codified, location scouting can be a bit more difficult to master. This great video tutorial will show you a professional landscape photographer's thought process in choosing locations and how you can find those golden spots for compelling images.
Is there anything finer than a monochrome silver gelatin print shot on film? Should we even attempt getting close to that with digital? Black and white are either misused or underused in many genres, and it’s time for a change.
When it comes to choosing a space for studio photography, it is often a tradeoff between having enough room for all your equipment and for whatever creative ideas you envision versus the cost of renting said space. If you are wondering how much room you need for full-length portraits, check out this excellent video that will show you everything you need to know.
Most of you may have heard of hidden files on your computer, but do you know about "super-hidden" files? These specially hidden files are well worth taking a look at, as they have the potential to cause your machine serious problems.
Sony creates some of the most advanced cameras and lenses in the world, and if money is no object, you can put together a kit that can tackle just about any photo or video situation you could possibly throw at it. There are a lot of options out there, though, so if you are wondering where to start, check out this helpful video guide that will show you some of the best choices in the Sony full frame system.
If you are new to street photography, it can be quite the intimidating genre, but with a little practice, it can quickly develop your photographic eye and improve your work in many other genres as well. If you are interested in street photography but wondering how to get started, check out this helpful video tutorial that features seven tips sure to set beginners on the right path.
Spring is just about upon many of us, and it brings with it a wide range of exciting new photo opportunities and chances to explore your creativity and expand your portfolio. If you want to make sure you get the most out of the next few weeks, check out this fantastic video tutorial that discusses 13 ideas and tips to improve your springtime landscape photos and expand your creative output.
One of the beautiful things about landscape photography is that your camera settings play two roles: providing a technically correct exposure and just as importantly, allowing you to render the frame in the way your creative mind sees fit. There are some camera settings you need to make sure you have down, however, and if you are new to the genre, this helpful video tutorial will make sure you know what they are and how to properly use them.
As you progress in photography and accumulate more images in your library of work, you will probably end up with tens or even hundreds of thousands of photos, and keeping them organized can be quite a task. Part of that will sometimes mean working with multiple catalogs that you might want to combine down the line. This excellent video tutorial will show you everything you need to know to merge multiple catalogs in Lightroom.
When it comes to photos of birds in flight, few other things matter if the final image is not sharp. If you would like to make sure your photos of birds in flight are nice and crisp, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will give you a range of tips as well as a nice discussion on what makes a compelling image of a bird in flight.
There is a lot of advice on what gear you should buy in 2022. But, if you look beyond the marketing of companies, is there gear that you probably don’t need in 2022? The answer is, yes, there is a lot of gear you don’t need. Here are my top picks on what you should not get.
When it comes to photography, we often spend a lot of time either trying to follow formulaic procedures to create the best images or trying to imitate the work of others. And that can often create perfectly acceptable images, but on the other hand, it is important to remember that sometimes, intuition is the best way to get things done. This excellent video essay discusses that idea and how to apply it to your own work.
These are six of the most common mistakes I see photographers make in their editing regardless of skill level. This part will cover white balance, getting caught up in your histogram, and not spending enough time cropping.
There are few things that can make or break a photograph like composition. If you organize a brilliant composition of a scene, you could turn an average photo into something special. However, conversely, if your composition is poor, it can undo a lot of hard work.
Forests can make for wonderful photographs, but they can be very tricky to create compelling and clean compositions in given the dense and unpredictable, snaking branches. Fog can be a fantastic natural way to alleviate this issue, and it provides dramatic, diffuse light. This helpful video tutorial will show you how to create the best images you can when shooting a foggy forest.
Along with shutter speed and ISO, aperture is one of the three fundamental exposure parameters that help to create a technically sound photograph. However, aperture is not just a tool for getting the correct exposure, as it gives you powerful creative control over the look of the resultant image. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to choose the correct aperture for a variety of images both to create a technically correct photo and to convey what you want creatively.
You have checked the weather maps, you have a clear idea of what you could photograph to get a masterpiece, and then, things are different, and you have no idea what to photograph? That’s fantastic, because this is the best starting point to become a better photographer.
If you like shooting your muse in a night-like environment, you might run into some difficulties. With flash, it is also possible to create the night during daylight. This way, it becomes much easier to shoot your muse, without all the difficulties you encounter while shooting in the dark. On top of that, it isn’t difficult at all.
Sony offers some of the most advanced cameras and lenses in the world, but of course, tricking out your entire kit can quickly cause the costs to add up. That being said, if you do not insist on having the absolute best equipment, it is quite possible to build a competent and capable Sony kit without breaking the bank. This helpful video will take you through the best options for cameras, primes, and zoom lenses.
Whether you want to make it a business, volunteer your time and skills for shelter pets in need, or just want to create better memories of your own furry friends, pet photography is a specialized skill that takes some careful technique and knowledge. If you are ready to improve your pet photography, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you everything you need to know from the best gear to lighting, camera settings, working with treats, and more.
These are six of the most common mistakes I see photographers make in their editing regardless of skill level. This part will cover how heavy your edit should be, controlling your saturation, and fixing halos in your images.
When it comes to portrait photography, one of the most fundamental and important creative decisions you can make is the focal length you use. If you are newer to portrait photography and curious about how it affects the look of your final images, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you a set of portraits shot at a range of different focal lengths.
When you are working in the studio, it is not a big deal to create complex, multi-light setups, since all your gear is there and doing so only requires moving it a minimal distance. On the other hand, when it comes to working on location, unless you have an entire crew with you, efficiency is the name of the game. This helpful video tutorial will show you a quick, simple, and effective lighting setup for on-location portraits.
There are a ton of products out there that promise you a quick and direct route to being a better photographer. Before you spend your money on what might be an empty promise, however, spend a few minutes watching this fantastic video essay that discusses what it really takes to become a better photographer.
When it comes to portrait photography, most professionals employ a range of lighting equipment to dial in the exact images they are looking for no matter where they are or when they are shooting. That being said, you will be amazed what you can accomplish with natural light and the knowledge of how to shape it to your needs. This great video tutorial will show you how to create professional portraits in a garage using just natural light and a few modifiers.
Lightroom has some useful tools for organizing and working with large collections of photos, and one particularly useful option is virtual copies. If you have not used them before or you want to get more out of them, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you everything you need to know to use virtual copies.
Composition is a nuanced, tricky thing, and it holds within it the power to capture the viewer's eye and imagination. If you are looking for ways to improve the compositions of your images, no matter what genre you shoot, check out this fantastic video essay that will show you a time-tested technique for creating more interesting and compelling photos.
As landscape photographers, we are used to leaving our warm bed in the early morning, being on location, and also having a composition before the sun starts to rise. But what if we arrive after the sun has come up? Is there still a way to go home with strong photographs?
Family portraits are something that will almost always be in demand, but with multiple subjects to manage, with some of them often being unruly kids, it can take a lot to get a successful result. If you want to create better family portraits, check out this excellent video tutorial that will give five tips sure to help you improve.
There are few genres of photography I find more interesting and engaging than street, but it's a tricky discipline to master. In this video, Pat Kay walks you through five essential tips that could help you improve.
Utilizing natural light in your photography can be a quick and easy way to create portraits without having to fuss over strobes, light stands, and light modifiers. In this video, photographer Anita Sadowska takes us along for a swimwear shoot in an NYC location that features floor-to-ceiling windows, which allow for a generous amount of natural light to enter.
When I watch events, and the cameras swiftly pan by the crowded photographers trying to get the cover shot, I can’t help but scan for women. I do it when the receiver runs full force out-of-bounds and accidentally crashes into the sideline photographers. “Was there a woman in that crew?" Or on CSPAN when the camera pans back to the counsel’s table and you get that quick glimpse of the photographers sitting like sardines on the floor with their cameras. At the Olympics, especially, I’m always eyeing women. I don’t see them as often as I wish.
When it comes to landscape photography, the wide angle lens is the most common tool of choice. And while they are great for the genre, they come with their own set of challenges that can make it quite tricky to come home with compelling images. This great video tutorial follows an experienced photographer as he discusses both how to create wide angle compositions and how to deal with bad weather.
Wide angle lenses are almost always the first thing landscape photographers reach for, and, of course, there is a good reason why they are so popular in the genre. That being said, long telephoto lenses can produce equally interesting images and can actually be the better choice for certain images. This excellent video will show you some of what you can do with one and why it is so useful.
If you hop on Instagram and scroll through any landscape photography page, you will likely see a lot of images with cascading rays of dramatic golden light casting warm glows over their frames. And while that look is popular for a good reason, you can absolutely create equally compelling landscape photos in flat light, and this fantastic video tutorial will show you how.
One of the great benefits of using modern digital cameras is the high degree of customization options available. Menus, button configuration, touchscreens, and more can be customized for specific scenarios. In addition to programmable buttons and menus, all modern cameras include a feature called Custom Shooting Modes, which allow the user to save and recall personalized user profiles. In this article and video, I explain CSMs and how using them can greatly improve your photography and user experience.
When it comes to learning lighting, we mostly discuss how to precisely add it to scenes to build up the final look from a blank slate. But just as important as knowing how to properly add light to the scene is knowing how to remove it. This quick and helpful video tutorial will give you an overview of negative fill, including what it is and how to use it in your photos.
We don’t talk enough about how relationships, or the lack thereof, will either make or break your career as a photographer. I’m not talking about the relationships with your clients. I’m talking about the needed strong relationships with all the supporting people that allow you to deliver the goods. These relationships are to be cultivated and nurtured.
Modern image files can be large and rather clunky to work with, but Lightroom has a neat feature to make things easier and more versatile: Smart Previews. This awesome video tutorial will show you the ins and outs of Smart Previews, including why they are used and how to take advantage of them for your own work.
Learning to produce technically proficient and creative video is no small feat, but if the sound that goes with it is not up to the same standard, your final product will be lacking. If you would like to improve the quality of the sound in your video, check out this fantastic video tutorial that offers six helpful tips that will have you on your way in no time.
The overall layout and the placement of subjects within the frame can make or break your photographs. You may know the rule of thirds and the golden section, but composition goes way beyond that, and most of it is about simple geometry.
Is getting criticism necessarily a bad thing? How does it affect who you are as an artist?
Over the past few years, Adobe has made great advances in artificial intelligence through Adobe Sensei. Regular Photoshop users will know how tough it can be to change a longstanding workflow and also how rewarding it can be to make effective use of newer features to save valuable time when editing.
Photography takes the combination of creativity, technical knowledge, and aptitude with a variety of specialized methods, and as such, there are a lot of places where things can go wrong. This excellent video tutorial discusses eight common mistakes both amateur and more advanced photographers make and how to fix them or avoid them in the first place.
This is a brief overview of why you need filters for landscape photography, comparing the different types of systems you may encounter, and breaking down which setup is right for you.
